No. 24 State Soccer Travels To Norman To Face Oklahoma In SEC Opener

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State soccer (6-1-0) travels to Norman, Oklahoma, to kick off SEC play with the Oklahoma Sooners (7-1-0) on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT at John Crain Field. This match marks a historic first-ever meeting between the two programs, as Oklahoma will host their first SEC contest as members.

The Bulldogs' strong start has propelled them into the national rankings, sitting at No. 24 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 22 in TopDrawerSoccer, marking their 10th consecutive week among the nation's top teams. State has built strong momentum through an impressive nonconference slate and currently hold a No. 33 RPI ranking, reflecting the high level of competition the Dawgs have lined up against throughout the season.

Mississippi State's defense, under the guidance of coaches Drago Ceranic and Kat Stratton, has been a dominant force, registering five shutouts and conceding just two goals in seven matches. Goalkeeper Maddy Anderson has played a pivotal role, climbing to sixth place on the SEC all-time shutout leaderboard with 30 career clean sheets.

Offensively, the Bulldogs have shown remarkable depth, with nine different players contributing to the team's 15 goals. Forward Aitana Martinez-Montoya and midfielder Ally Perry lead the scoring with three goals each, while Perry also tops the team with 28 shots.

On the other side of the pitch, Oklahoma has enjoyed success early in their 2024 campaign, boasting a 7-1-0 record. The Sooners are coming into SEC play with confidence, led by second-year head coach Matt Mott. Oklahoma's high-powered offense averages 3.38 goals per game and has netted 27 goals overall, while their defense has allowed just five goals across eight matches, giving up only 0.63 goals per game. Goalkeeper Caroline Duffy has been a standout, posting a 0.64 goals-against average and a save percentage of .828%.

This week holds significant importance for Mississippi State as they welcome the SEC's newest members, Oklahoma and Texas. After facing the Sooners in Norman, the Bulldogs will return to Starkville for a marquee matchup against No. 11/4 Texas on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Team Comparison:

Category	Mississippi State	Oklahoma
Goals	15	27
Goals/Game	2.14	3.38
Goals Allowed/Game	0.29	0.63
Shots/Game	20.9	19.5
Shots on Goal Percentage	.342	.481

Match Coverage:

Live Stats: Follow the action with live stats available on HailState.com at hailst.at/3XssPb3
Stream: The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and can be accessed via hailst.at/4e5EeVf

For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."

– HailState.com –